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Abraham Lincoln High School first opened its doors in 1878. Our world has changed significantly in the last hundred years. New technologies are constantly changing how we access information and use computers. With the expansion and growth of Internet based technologies, the world has become much smaller and more interconnected. These technological advances are occurring exponentially and carry far-reaching implications for our educational system and what it will take to bring our students into the new millennium prepared to function in a society that is in the midst of a paradigm shift. In order to meet this challenge we need a clear vision as to where we want to go as an educational institution and the type of individuals we want to send out into the world. We need to take into consideration the whole individual and the whole society.

 

Thomas L. Friedman, in his book, The World is Flat, states: “The flat-world platform is the product of a convergence of the personal computer (which allowed every individual suddenly to become the author of his or her own content in digital form) with fiber-optic cable (which suddenly allowed all those individuals to access more and more digital content around the world for next to nothing) with the rise of work flow software (which enabled individuals all over the world to collaborate on that same digital content from anywhere, regardless of the distances between them).”

 

Our school has wifi campus-wide and all students can log in using their single sign on school email.   Many students have computers checked out to them and we have numerous Chromebook carts throughout the school with general use labs.  The increase in technology schoolwide opens a window through which we can peer into the lives and experiences of people all over the globe, in all fields from astronomy, arts, and sciences. It provides quick and easy access to information needed to help us solve everyday problems. It offers new career opportunities and new ways of prospering. And it is just plain fun discovering so many ideas presented by so many people in so many unique expressions. 

 

In 2019-2020, our school along with the rest of the world engaged in the an extended technology training as a result of the COVID pandemic.  Now, students are much more familiar with using Schoology and online tools for learning.  Teachers are more comfortable using these tools on a regular basis with their students and we continue to build on this momentum.  I think everyone recognizes more the power of technology in our lives and how crucial it is to continue to prepare students in learning new technologies.

 

We, as educators should take full advantage of its lure and plug our students into this vast storehouse of information that will stimulate their thirst for knowledge and challenge them to seek further. This revolution in communications and technology is also revolutionizing the teaching/learning process. Colleges and universities expect that freshmen students come to them knowing how to access the Internet and use it for research and collaboration. The job market is wide open for those who have computer skills, are information literate and able to solve real world problems in the workplace. Students who are not prepared thus find themselves at a grave disadvantage. By giving our students access to this world stage we significantly increase their access to information and widen their sphere of influence. We empower them to reach out and touch the world with their ideas, values, knowledge and understanding - or lack there-of. It should be made ever so clear that with this greater sphere of influence comes greater social responsibility.

 

Charged with the enormous task of preparing our youngsters to assume their adult roles able to function and contribute to the global society of the new millennium, as educators we cannot afford to allow ourselves to become obsolete. This is a compelling reason for educators to upgrade their own skills and teaching strategies in order to help our students meet the challenges of an advance technological society.